After eight years of near silence, Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice comes out with a soul-stirring bang on My Favourite Faded Fantasy. The delay between his second and third solo albums certainly didn’t diminish Rice’s ability to put his inner turmoil on display, as listeners get a taste with the haunting melodies and sweeping arrangements on the title track and album opener. Rice’s soft vocals float above the gentle plucks of guitar and delicate piano before the highlight track shifts into a powerhouse track of passion, climaxing with Rice shouting “I’ve never loved” amid shrieking strings. Unfortunately, the rest of the album struggles to compete with its stellar introduction. “It Takes a Lot to Know a Man” and “The Greatest Bastard” are solid songs, but lose some luster trying to compete, although “Colour Me In” is a gentle delight. Overall, My Favourite Faded Fantasy is a welcomed, if unbalanced, return for the Irish balladeer.